Muqali

Muqali (simplified: 木华黎, traditional: 木華黎, pinyin: Mùhuálí, jyutping: muk6 waa4 lai4) was a Mongol general under Temüjin, later Genghis Khan, and one of his Four Heroes, alongside Bo’orchu, Boroqul and Tchila’un. Fair-faced and gentle in looks, he was known as a master of strategy, and in later years he led the Mongol campaign against the Jin Empire with Tolui.

Biography

Under Temüjin

In the battle on the earthen hill against the Tayichiud, Temüjin ordered Muqali and the Second Prince, Chagatai, to fall back to the west with their troops and turn back to attack when the great banner was raised and the horns sounded.

When the Jin princes Wanyan Hongxi and Wanyan Honglie came to confer a title on Temüjin, Temüjin asked Muqali what he thought of the Jin soldiers, who were still asleep in their tents. Muqali answered that a thousand Mongol soldiers could beat five thousand of theirs, and that the Jin’s million men could not all take the field at once: “If we fight them in pieces, today we wipe out a hundred thousand, tomorrow we sweep away another hundred thousand.” Temüjin clapped him on the shoulder and said that when it came to war, Muqali’s words always matched his own mind. When the Naiman barred the road, Muqali rode forward with ten guards to learn their purpose and reported that they wanted a title from the Jin too, and would otherwise hold the two princes hostage.

At Wang Khan’s camp Muqali was presented to the Jin princes with the other Four Heroes. When Senggum brought out his hunting leopards to mock the Four Heroes and Tchila’un sprang forward to fight them, Muqali held him back: “We shake the desert because we have killed so many enemies. Can a leopard command troops? Can it lay an ambush and encircle the foe?” When Senggum’s son Tusakha later had the leopards loosed on Tolui and Guo Jing, Muqali and the other Four Heroes rode out to stop it without waiting to tell Temüjin.

The battle on the hill

When Senggum and Jamukha trapped Temüjin on a hill, Muqali was among those who held it with their bows. After Guo Jing captured Tusakha, Muqali held a dao to the boy’s neck to keep Senggum’s men from coming up, and when Temüjin’s men broke out he carried Tusakha in his arms with the blade at his throat, shouting at the enemy to make way. After the victory, when Temüjin was proclaimed Genghis Khan, Muqali was made a commander of a thousand along with the other Four Heroes, Jebe, Jelme and Subutai.

The war against the Jin

In the years that followed, Muqali won many victories for Genghis Khan. When Guo Jing returned to the north, Muqali and Tolui were leading the Mongol army against the Jin and had beaten them in several great battles across Henan and Shandong, until the Jin troops shut themselves up behind Tong Pass. Summoned to a great assembly north of the desert, Muqali and Tolui handed over their command banners and rode north through the night. There Muqali advised that Tong Pass could not be taken quickly and that the best course was to ally with the Song and attack the Jin from two sides, and Genghis Khan agreed. Muqali affixed the seal to Genghis Khan’s six-word reply to the Shah of Khwarezm. When Jochi and Chagatai came to blows over the succession, Bo’orchu held Jochi’s hand and Muqali held Chagatai’s.

Personality & traits

Muqali had gentle features and a fair, clean complexion. He kept a cool head, restraining Tchila’un from fighting Senggum’s leopards, and Temüjin said that on matters of war Muqali’s words always matched his own mind.

Martial arts abilities

Muqali was a battlefield general, an accurate archer and a commander of troops rather than a martial artist. He carried a dao.

Relationships

Temüjin

Muqali served Temüjin as one of his Four Heroes and advised him on war.

The Four Heroes

His fellow Four Heroes were Bo’orchu, Boroqul and Tchila’un.

Tolui

He shared the command of the campaign against the Jin with Tolui.

Behind the scenes

Historical basis

Muqali (1170–1223) was one of Genghis Khan’s four foremost companions. In 1217 Genghis Khan gave him the title guowang (国王) and charge of the war against the Jin in northern China, which he conducted until his death. In the appendix on Genghis Khan’s family printed with the novel, Jin Yong notes that Muqali was the general responsible for the eastern war against the Jin.